A Few Days Full of Trouble

A Few Days Full of Trouble is a powerful and personal account of one of the most tragic and influential events in the history of the civil rights movement. Reverend Wheeler Parker, Jr. was the last living witness to the kidnapping of his cousin and best friend, Emmett Till, in 1955. The book recounts Parker's harrowing journey from Chicago to Mississippi, where he and Till spent a few days with their relatives before Till was brutally murdered for allegedly whistling at a white woman. Parker vividly describes the fear, anger, and grief he felt as a 16-year-old boy who witnessed the horror of racism and injustice in the Jim Crow South. He also shares how his faith in God helped him cope with the trauma and find his calling as a minister and activist.

The book is co-written by Christopher Benson, a journalist and professor who has extensively researched and written about the Till case. Benson provides historical and legal context to Parker's personal story, as well as insights into the ongoing quest for justice for Till and his family. The book is not only a testimony of a survivor, but also a tribute to a martyr whose death sparked the civil rights movement. A Few Days Full of Trouble is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about the history and legacy of Emmett Till, and the courage and resilience of his cousin, Reverend Wheeler Parker, Jr.